May 30, 2014 - TLDEF praises a ruling by the United States Department of Health and Human Services Appeals Board that puts an end to the decades-long blanket denial of coverage for transgender-related surgeries under Medicare.

“We applaud this ruling which stops the outdated and discriminatory practice of denying transition-related surgeries to transgender people who receive Medicare,” said TLDEF Executive Director, Michael Silverman. “Transgender people deserve the same coverage for medically necessary health care as anyone else. It was wrong for the federal government to impose a blanket exclusion on surgeries. Congratulations to the American Civil Liberties Union, Gay & Lesbian Advocates & Defenders and the National Center for Lesbian Rights, for working so hard to overturn the ban. It brings us one step closer to full equality in health care coverage for the transgender community.”